Obituary of Reding F. Putman

Reding Fenn Putman of Mendham, NJ passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 8, 2014. Born August 1, 1933 in Brookline, MA he was the only child of Reding and Margaretta Putman. Known to all as Fenn, he spent his childhood in Longview, TX. He attended Northwestern University where he met his future bride of 49 years, Mary Jane Ritchie. After receiving his MBA in Kansas City, MO, Fenn moved his family to New Jersey to pursue a career on Wall Street in the municipal bond industry. Through the span of his 40 year career he worked for W.H. Morton, American Express, Solomon Brothers, Dean Witter, Lehman Brothers and O'Brien Partners. He was known throughout the industry as a consummate professional who managed both the business and the people involved with great fairness and integrity. As a leader in the industry, he held positions as Chairman of the Public Securities Association, Vice Chairman of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and President of the Municipal Bond Club of New York. An ardent believer in service to your country, Fenn was a Captain in the Marine Corps. He was also deeply committed to service in his community. He was President of the Mendham Township Board of Education. He served as both a Vestry and Pastoral Care member as well as leader of the Outreach Program for the Church of St. John on the Mountain. His pride and joy was his over 40 years of dedication to the Frost Valley YMCA in upstate NY. He is the longest serving member of the Board as a Trustee, President of the Board of Trustees, and most recently as Chairman of the Board. Few in the long history of the camp have set a more consistent tone of caring, compassion and loyalty. Although his focus was overseeing the organization from a business and development standpoint, he most enjoyed getting to know campers, families and staff in order to enrich the experience of all who participated in camp programs. Golf was one of Fenn's passions, which he shared with his family. He was a long time member of Somerset Hills Country Club, a member of the US Seniors, NJ Seniors and Father & Son Golf Associations, as well as a volunteer for the Metropolitan Golf Association. As leader of the Putman family, Fenn accepted the award for Family of the Year by the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association in 2009 and shared the dais with golf legend Arnold Palmer and other notables of the game. Fenn's greatest passion however was his friends and his family. All who knew him, no matter how well, would describe him as a true gentleman. He was a devoted husband, father of three and grandfather of seven. He is preceded in death by his wife "Sis". He is survived by his son James, his wife Susan and their daughters Grace and Claire of Bernardsville, NJ, daughter Missy and her children Caroline and Andrew Fink of Pelham, NY and son Jeffrey and his wife Jenny and their children Audrey, Emily and Harrison of Westport, CT. A memorial service will be held at St. John on the Mountain, 379 Mt. Harmony Road, Bernardsville, NJ on June 19, 2014 at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, please send any remembrances by donation to Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville, NY 12725 or www.frostvalley.org www.baileyfuneral.com